Academy week starts with a bang
Eastern Province CD completely overpowered Griquas CD to score an impressive 10 tries for a comprehensive 62-3 victory in what marked the biggest score of the day in the Academy Week.
Such was the Eastern Cape side’s dominance they led 31-3 at the break and added another 31 points in the second half, with flyhalf Anele Makhongolo kicking six conversions and scoring a try for a personal total of 17 points.
The Griquas delivered a solid attacking display for their 48-31 victory against Sharks CD as they touched down seven times, while flyhalf Heinrich Boshoff had a good day with the boot to kick five conversions and a penalty goal. Sharks CD wing Jacques Lindeque tried hard to give his team a boost as he scored a hat-trick, but these efforts were not enough as the team was outscored seven tries to five.
A hat-trick by Sharks wing Luthando Buthelezi, meanwhile, guided the Durban side to a 46-7 victory against SWD as they outscored the opposition seven tries to one. The Sharks were in control of the first half and led 24-7 at the break, and they build on this as the match progressed, while maintaining their water-tight defensive system to prevent the George side from adding to their score.
The Falcons dominated their clash against the Limpopo Blue Bulls from the outset and they earned the rewards as they took an encouraging 17-0 lead at the break. They built on this in the second half thanks to their ability to capitalise on their point-scoring chances which saw them increase their tally to six, while they limited the Limpopo side to two tries for a 41-12 victory. Falcons flyhalf Edrich Aucamp was instrumental in his team’s solid start to the tournament as he scored a try, slotted over four conversions and a penalty goal for 16 points.
Western Province, meanwhile, overcame a tough challenge from Boland in the Western Cape derby to register a narrow 38-31 victory late in the match. It was a tight tussle from the outset as the Cape side took a narrow 14-10 lead at the break, but their five tries to four by Boland handed them the victory.
In the only draw of the day Griquas staged a strong second-half comeback against Eastern Province to fight their way to a 22-22 draw after trailing 19-8 at halftime, with both sides scoring three tries, converting one and slotting over a penalty goal.
Day one, results:
Falcons 41-12 Limpopo Blue Bulls
Eastern Province CD 62-3 Griquas CD
Sharks CD 31-48 Griffons
Eastern Province 22-22 Griquas
Sharks 46 – 7 SWD
Western Province 38 – 31 Boland
Day two, fixtures:
08.00: Golden Lions XV v Zimbabwe
09.20: Falcons CD v Border CD
10.40: SA LSEN v Griffons CD
12.00: Namibia v Pumas CD
14.40: Blue Bulls v Free State
16.00: Golden Lions v Pumas
